Let's Engage, Good Shepherd, based at the Methodist Centre in School Street, has successfully raised £9,585 through individual donations and grant funding to support a group of homeless people to try new activities as a positive diversion from their current lifestyle.

Online donations via Type=links;Linkid=9883;Title=Crowdfund Wolves;Target=_blank; start from as little as £2 - and it was a contribution of £700 from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation that pushed them over the finishing line, following support from 85 other backers.

Participants in the Let's Engage, Good Shepherd programme will get the opportunity to try new activities, interact with others and grow their confidence and self-esteem.

Helen Holloway, who led the crowdfunding campaign, said: "Reaching our target goal with the support of Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and a variety of backers is a fantastic achievement.

"We can now offer a range of activities from sports, cookery, games, creative workshops and social evenings which would not be available or an option without this funding.

"Many individuals are struggling to make ends meet and are socially isolated. Let's Engage wants to improve lives and give individuals a new focus and direction in life."

Councillor John Reynolds from the City of Wolverhampton Council, added: "Crowdfund Wolves is part of our approach to community engagement where we enable communities to support and develop the projects that they are passionate about.

"I hope Let's Engage, Good Shepherd is the first of many City of Wolverhampton projects to receive funding through this crowdfunding website.

"We are looking for even more unusual, interesting and innovative projects to make the City of Wolverhampton even better."

Crowdfund Wolves is a website that connects people, communities and businesses to everything they need to make their idea a reality.

The council has joined with the Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council (WVSC) to develop the platform.

Anyone can back the great ideas on this site and play their part in bringing them to life. To view the latest projects head to Type=links;Linkid=9883;Title=Crowdfund Wolves;Target=_blank;.